Guwahati, Jan. 22: The bickering factions of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today resolved to bury their differences to maximise the party?s chances of regaining lost ground in the Lok Sabha poll.
The consensus was reached after a debate spread over two days. By the end of the party?s central executive committee meeting tonight, the Brindaban Goswami and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta camps were speaking in one voice about the need to be a ?united house? before the elections.
Taking the first step in this direction, the Mahanta-led faction, which had initially demanded that the AGP?s annual conclave next week be shifted from Goswami?s hometown Tezpur, endorsed the conference agenda proposed by the rival camp.
In accordance with the agenda approved by the central executive committee, the AGP organisational election will be conducted on the second day of the three-day conclave, beginning January 28. The outgoing central executive committee will meet for the last time at the same venue on January 27.
The central executive decided to move the government for adequate security to its leaders after a five-member panel constituted yesterday to investigate the alleged interference by surrendered Ulfa (Sulfa) members in party affairs submitted an inconclusive report.
The panel, led by Prabin Sarma, said an ?unknown group? was spotted moving about near the AGP headquarters at Ambari before the meeting began. It said the identity of the group or its motive could not be ascertained because none of the seven witnesses shed light on what had happened.
The Mahanta camp insisted that an FIR be filed at the nearest police station, but the central executive committee decided to seek the government?s help instead.
The panel was constituted after the Mahanta camp said members of the Sulfa brigade had assembled near the party headquarters with placards containing slogans maligning the former chief minister.